Sports briefs: July 11

Roger Federer crushed Andy Murray's bid to return to the Wimbledon finals with a 7-5, 7-5, 6-4 victory on Friday to set up another title showdown against Novak Djokovic.

Federer, the second seed, and world No. 1 Djokovic will clash in their second consecutive finals at the All England Club a year after Djokovic came from 2-5 down in the fifth set to win.

Federer will bid for a record eighth Wimbledon title in his 10th finals on Sunday. He won his last Grand Slam — his 17th — with a win over Djokovic in the 2012 finals but stands 2-3 against his rival since their 2014 Wimbledon clash.

"Novak has been the best player for several years now," Federer said. "He's made it tough for guys to win big tournaments. But I know how to beat him."

Djokovic received several visits from the trainer who worked briefly on his left shoulder. But he gave little away: "It's nothing that worries me; it will be fine."

Golf

St. Xavier's Thomas atop John Deere by one

Justin Thomas shot a 4-under 67 to take a one-shot lead through two rounds at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill.

Thomas, a 22-year-old graduate of St. Xavier High in Louisville seeking his first career win, is at 12-under 130 total. Johnson Wagner and Tom Gillis are a shot back.

Jordan Spieth shot a 7-under 64 on Friday to go from at risk of missing the cut to moving within five shots of the lead.

Spieth, who will try for his third straight major title next week at the British Open, opened the tournament with an even-par 71. But he rallied with four birdies in six holes and an eagle Friday.

■Amy Yang rolled in four consecutive birdies in a round of 4-under 66 for a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the U.S. Women's Open in Lancaster, Pa.

While the bulk of the field tried to solve the sloping greens, Yang charged into the lead on her inward nine with birdies on Nos. 11-13. The 25-year-old South Korean was at 7-under 133.

Stacy Lewis, last year's runner-up, and Japan's Shiho Oyama were tied for second at 4-under 136.

Marina Alex, part of a three-way tie for the lead after one round, carded a 1-over 71 and was next at 3-under 137. Karrie Webb, also first-round co-leader, had a 72 and was in a large group at 138. Defending champion Michelle Wie rebounded from an opening 72 with a 68 and was seven shots off the lead.

■Englishman Daniel Brooks, ranked No. 528 in the world, took a three-shot lead in the Scottish Open. Brooks rolled in a 30-foot putt for birdie on the last hole for a 5-under 65.

College football

Buckeye QB Miller back for fifth season

Quarterback Braxton Miller says he's almost fully recovered from his latest shoulder injury and he's staying at Ohio State for a fifth season to win back the starting job. Miller hurt his throwing shoulder shortly before the start of last season. He sat out while the Buckeyes won the national championship with J.T. Barrett then Cardale Jones leading the team. Miller will be in a three way competition for the job.

■Florida State indefinitely suspended leading running back Dalvin Cook after he was charged Friday with punching a woman June 23 outside a bar — the second time in two weeks that an FSU player has been charged with punching a woman.

Cook, 19, led Florida State last year with 1,008 rushing yards as a freshman. He was also second on the team with eight touchdowns. Previously, freshman quarterback De'Andre Johnson was caught on a surveillance video punching a woman at another bar near campus. He was kicked off the team.

Tour de France

Froome likes his view at the front

Staying in front has meant staying out of trouble so far for Chris Froome at the Tour de France. After a crash-marred first week of the race, the 2013 champion is exactly in the position he wants to be — healthy and wearing the yellow jersey.

The British rider's title defense ended early last year, when he fell three times in two days. This year, he has avoided all three big crashes after making up his mind to push ahead of any potential dangers. In Friday's seventh stage, Mark Cavendish won a sprint finish for his 26th career Tour stage victory.

Meanwhile, the race was hit by its first doping case as Italian rider Luca Paolini was thrown out after testing positive for cocaine on July 7, cycling's governing body said.

Etc.

Hardy's suspension cut from 10 to 4 games

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy's suspension for his role in a domestic violence case was reduced from 10 games to four. Arbitrator Harold Henderson said the length was "simply too much" since the league had decided last year that suspensions in domestic cases would start at six games.

■Former Eastern Kentucky University player Timmy Knipp has signed to play professionally in Germany. Knipp will play for the Bayer Giants, a member of the Pro A German league.

Knipp, a 6-foot-7 guard, averaged 10.5 points and 3.8 rebounds while helping the Colonels to a third straight 20-win season in 2014-15. The Elliott County grad also blocked 40 shots during his senior season. In four games against professional teams last summer during EKU's tour of Australia, Knipp averaged 16 points while shooting 51 percent from the field.

■Jamaican Usain Bolt is set to compete for the first time since June 13 at a Diamond League meet at the London 2012 Olympic Stadium on July 24. The six-time Olympic champion pulled out of his two previously scheduled July meets, citing a left leg injury. Bolt is in jeopardy of relinquishing his titles in the 100 and 200 meters to American Justin Gatlin at the World Championships in Beijing in August. "I'm very concerned about the progress of his preparation so far," Bolt coach Glen Mills said.

The last word

Justin Rose after driving his tee shot on the par-5 16th hole into the gallery and hitting someone at the Scottish Open Friday:

"First you hope it's not a kid, then you hope it's not a woman. It's an elderly gentleman, so it's not nice, but he took it like a trouper."

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